Jan Christian Smuts (1870-1950), Prime Minister of South Africa, Field Marshal and writer on evolution

Sitter in 33 portraits
Statesman. Born in the Cape Colony, South Africa, Smuts participated in the negotiations that concluded the Boer War in 1902 and created the Union of South Africa in 1910. He attended the Imperial Conference of 1917 and was persuaded by Lloyd George to join the British War Cabinet. On his return to South Africa, Smuts became prime minister (1919-1924) suppressing rural resistance to colonialism and the general strike. He was Prime Minister again from 1939 to 1948 and committed South African troops to the British War effort. In 1945 he was active in the establishment of the United Nations.